On the 7th (local time), he is briefing reporters at UN Headquarters with US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz and Gulf country ambassadors regarding the 'Strait of Hormuz Resolution'. [AFP=Yonhap News Photo]

The United States has made some revisions to a draft UN Security Council resolution aimed at responding to Iran's threat to blockade the Strait of Hormuz, Reuters reported on the 8th (local time).

The core change is the deletion of provisions that served as the legal basis for enforcement measures, following concerns that China and Russia might exercise their veto power, as they did last month.

The initial draft resolution submitted by the United States and Gulf countries including Bahrain on the 5th strongly demanded Iran cease its attacks and mine-laying activities, and included Chapter VII of the UN Charter as its legal basis.

Chapter VII of the UN Charter grants the Security Council the authority to take enforcement measures, such as sanctions and military action, in situations that threaten international peace and security.

This led to strong objections from China and Russia, raising the possibility of them exercising their veto power.

In response, the United States circulated a revised draft on the 7th.

The revised draft deleted the wording related to the application of Chapter VII of the UN Charter, but retained a provision allowing the Security Council to reconvene to consider "effective measures, including sanctions," if Iran fails to comply with the resolution.

It also kept the phrase "reaffirms the right of Member States to defend their vessels against attacks and threats, including attacks that infringe upon the freedom and rights of navigation."

While the provisions for enforcement measures at the Security Council level have been removed, the wording related to individual states' right to self-defense has been maintained, leading to interpretations that the possibility of military response remains.

Reuters assessed that the revised draft does not explicitly authorize the use of force but does not exclude it either.

Previously, the US, along with Bahrain and other countries, had pushed for a Security Council resolution last month urging the protection of vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and the guarantee of freedom of navigation, but it was rejected due to China and Russia's veto power.

At that time, the resolution also mentioned the right of member states to defend their vessels, which drew objections from China and Russia.

Even with this revision, the passage of the current resolution remains uncertain.

Russia has already expressed its opposition to the revised draft.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Alimov stated in an interview with the local daily Izvestia on the 9th that Russia could not support the resolution submitted by the US and Bahrain and urged its withdrawal, according to TASS news agency.